Mechanical Ventilation Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Preparation

FeNO monitoring tracks eosinophilic airway inflammation and how well inhaled corticosteroids calm that inflammation. Inhaled corticosteroids reduce inflammatory gene expression in the airways, including inducible nitric oxide synthase, which lowers nitric oxide production. So a decrease in FeNO after starting or increasing ICS reflects an effective anti-inflammatory response and better asthma control. Clinically, FeNO helps gauge ICS dosing and adherence—persistently high FeNO suggests insufficient suppression or nonadherence, signaling the need to adjust therapy. Other drug classes don’t target airway inflammation in the same way; bronchodilators relieve symptoms without reducing inflammation, systemic corticosteroids are used in more severe cases and are not the standard target of FeNO monitoring, and leukotriene modifiers act through different pathways. Therefore, FeNO is best used to assess the effectiveness of inhaled corticosteroids.